Unilever to acquire Alberto Culver

London & Rotterdam - September 27, 2010. Unilever today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the US-based Alberto Culver Company for US$3.7 billion in cash. Alberto Culver generated sales approaching US$1.6 billion and EBITDA of over US$250 million for the 12-month period ending June 30 2010.

Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever said: “We are delighted to be acquiring Alberto Culver. Their people have done an excellent job of building an impressive range of brands such as TRESemmé, VO5, Nexxus, St. Ives and Simple. These will complement Unilever’s existing portfolio of iconic brands like Dove, Clear and Sunsilk in hair care and Pond’s and Vaseline in skin and will help build on our strong global positions in both the hair care and skin care categories.”

The acquisition makes Unilever the world’s leading company in hair conditioning, the second largest in shampoo and the third largest in styling, and significantly enhances its hair care presence in the US, Canada, the UK, Mexico and Australasia, all of which will be significant hair care markets for years to come.

The deal fulfils a number of key criteria for Unilever. It:

Enhances Unilever’s presence in an attractive, high-growth category.

Brings a portfolio of attractive brands which have together grown at above market growth rates in a competitive category.

Provides Unilever with the opportunity to use its scale, reach and technology to take Alberto Culver’s brands to a new level in existing markets and extend their presence to new emerging markets.

Adds successful styling and conditioning brands like TRESemmé and Nexxus to Unilever’s US portfolio, complementing its own brands such as Suave, Dove and Sunsilk.

Adds complementary brands like VO5, TRESemmé and Simple that enable Unilever’s UK business to cover more price points across categories.

Polman continued, ”Personal Care is a strategic category for Unilever and growing rapidly. Ten years ago it represented 20% of our turnover; strong organic growth has driven it to now reach over 30%, with strong positions in many of the emerging markets.

Alberto Culver has operations in nine countries, including the US, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, the UK, South Africa and Australasia. It has six manufacturing facilities and employs around 2,700 people.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval, approval of the Alberto Culver shareholders and other customary closing conditions. It is expected to deliver significant synergies and, excluding restructuring costs, the acquisition will be accretive to EPS in the first full year.

Media Contacts:

London: Paul Matthews +44 1372 945 925

Rotterdam: Flip Dötsch +31 (0) 10 2174844

Englewood Cliffs, NJ (USA): Anita Larsen +1 201 894 4997

About Alberto Culver

Alberto Culver Company manufactures, distributes and markets leading beauty care and other personal care brands including TRESemmé, Alberto VO5, Nexxus, St. Ives, Simple and Noxzema in the United States and internationally. It is also the second largest producer in the U.S. of products for the ethnic hair care market with leading brands including Motions and Soft & Beautiful. For more information visit:www.alberto.com

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Alberto Culver Company (“ACV”) stockholders are strongly advised to read the proxy statement regarding the proposed business combination transaction referred to herein when it becomes available, because it will contain important information. The proxy statement will be filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) by ACV. Stockholders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement (when it is available) and other documents filed by ACV with the SEC at the SEC’s web site (http://www.sec.gov).

Copies of Unilever’s filings with the SEC may be obtained at the SEC’s web site (http://www.sec.gov) or by directing a request to Unilever at c/o Unilever United States Inc., 800 Sylvan Avenue (Attn.: M. Montagnino), Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632.

CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING PARTICIPANTS

Stockholders may obtain a detailed list of names, affiliations and interests of Unilever’s participants in the solicitation of proxies of ACV stockholders to approve the proposed business combination from Unilever’s 2009 Annual Report, which can be obtained for free from its web site at (http://annualreport09.unilever.com/), and will also be available in a Schedule 13D to be filed by Unilever with the SEC. Additional information about the interests of potential participants will be included in the proxy statement Alberto Culver Company will file with the SEC.

Safe Harbour

This announcement contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company's ability to acquire and integrate the Alberto Culver Company, including ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as ‘expects’, ‘anticipates’, ‘intends’, ‘believes’ or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions of future performance or results, and their negatives, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Group. They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, competitive pricing and activities, economic slowdown, industry consolidation, access to credit markets, recruitment levels, reputational risks, commodity prices, continued availability of raw materials, prioritisation of projects, consumption levels, costs, the ability to maintain and manage key customer relationships and supply chain sources, consumer demands, currency values, interest rates, the ability to integrate acquisitions and complete planned divestitures, the ability to complete planned restructuring activities, physical risks, environmental risks, the ability to manage regulatory, tax and legal matters and resolve pending matters within current estimates, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments, political, economic and social conditions in the geographic markets where the Group operates and new or changed priorities of the Boards. Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the Group’s filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the 20-F Report and the Annual Report and Accounts 2009.

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Group’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.